Binghamton 7 - Akron 3

Four-Run Eighth Gives B-Mets 7-3 Win

BINGHAMTON, NY – The Binghamton Mets batted around and scored four runs in the eighth inning, as they defeated the Akron Aeros 7-3 Tuesday night at NYSEG Stadium.

The inning consisted of three hits, four walks, and two Akron wild pitches, as Binghamton broke a 3-3 tie. After Wilfredo Tovar was thrown out at second base trying to stretch a leadoff single into a double, Trey Haley struggled to find the strike zone. Haley walked the next three batters he faced, setting up a bases-loaded situation with only one out.

Allan Dykstra then hit a groundball to first baseman Chun Chen. After Chen hesitated to throw the ball home, it was too late to retire Dykstra, and everybody was safe. Cory Vaughn then followed with a broken-bat infield hit to give Binghamton a 5-3 lead. Two more wild pitches from the Akron bullpen pushed the lead to four, and the damage was done.

For the second consecutive night, the Akron offense got off to a hot start. Against B-Met starter Logan Verrett, Chen hit a two-run single to give the Aeros an early 2-0 lead. After getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the second inning however, Verrett settled down nicely.

He retired 16 of his final 18 batters, and threw seven innings in a no-decision. The only other damage against the righty came in the fifth, when Kyle Bellows hit a solo home run to left field to put Akron on top, 3-0.

The Binghamton offense took a while to get rolling against Paolo Espino, but got the momentum in the bottom of the fifth. With two men on base, Tovar singled home Cory Vaughn for the first B-Met run of the game. Danny Muno then tied the game by driving a two-run double to straightaway centerfield.

The scoring came to a halt for both teams until the B-Met four-run eighth. Jack Leathersich (1-0) earned his first Double-A victory. The lefty threw two scoreless innings to end the game after relieving Verrett. Haley was tagged with the loss, recording only one out in the midst of the troublesome eighth inning.

The B-Mets (21-18) search for the series sweep Wednesday night against Akron. RHP Jacob deGrom (0-4, 5.10) gets the ball for Binghamton against Akron’s RHP Jordan Cooper (1-0, 1.93). First pitch is set for 6:35 PM, with the Horizons Federal Credit Union Pregame Show beginning at 6:20 PM on Newsradio 1290 WNBF.

POSTGAME NOTES: The B-Mets have matched a season-high three-game winning streak. Jack Leathersich has struck out at least three batters in eight of his last nine appearances. For the second consecutive night, the B-Mets have won in comeback fashion.